Read Online Locked In by Z. Fraillon - Free Book Online

shoulders and headed out of the sleep hall.
    He hadn’t even reached the door before Felix caught up with him.

15
    It was exactly midnight. Something yowled in the distance. Jasper could feel a buzz of excitement tingling its way through his body. He could already taste freedom. He could smell it. The boys could just make out Saffy’s shadowy figure under Light Tower 4. Jasper motioned for Felix to be quiet as he crept up behind Saffy.

    â€˜RAAAR!’ he growled in her ear as he grabbed her shoulders. Jasper felt something thump painfully into his stomach, and found himself splayed in the snow.
    Light Tower 4

    â€˜What the –?’ Jasper gasped as Saffy stood over him, her hands on her hips.
    â€˜Oh, it’s you,’ she said.
    â€˜Of course it’s me! And what was that? ’
    Saffy sniffed. ‘Kickboxing.’
    Jasper was stunned. ‘Am I the only one here who doesn’t have some secret fighting skill?’ he muttered as he pulled himself up.
    Saffy and Felix glanced at each other.
    â€˜If you want to play stupid jokes and sneak up on people, I suggest you don’t do it in the middle of the night when a monster is on the – ’
    â€˜Pssst. ’
    Saffy stopped mid-sentence. They all stood frozen to the spot.
    â€˜ Don’t attack, ’ the voice hissed from the shadows.
    â€˜Who’s there?’ Felix asked suspiciously.
    A small figure emerged from the darkness.
    It was Bertie, the small kid who sat near them in the food hall. ‘I’m coming too,’ he said bravely. ‘That is – if you’ll let me?’
    Saffy pulled Felix and Jasper aside. ‘There’s no way he’s coming,’ she hissed. ‘He’s too much of a risk. I’ve got a plan and he’s not part of it.’
    â€˜Come on, Saffy. He’s just trying to get out of here, like us,’ said Jasper.
    They both turned to look at Felix. ‘Safety in numbers?’ Felix suggested.
    Saffy looked exasperated. ‘All right. Two against one. But he’d better pull his weight.’
    They turned to face Bertie. Jasper had never seen anyone look so miserable – or scared.
    â€˜Sure, come with us,’ Jasper said. ‘You might need this.’ He reached into his bag and pulled out spray cans full of whipped cream. It had taken him over an hour to find his way back to the records office – and even longer to find his way back. There was definitely something strange about those corridors.

    Jasper handed a can to everyone. ‘There are more in my bag,’ he said. ‘We’re not taking any chances.’
    Bertie’s hand shook uncontrollably when Jasper offered him the can.
    â€˜I’ll hold yours,’ Jasper said,stuffing it into the pocket of his hoodie. He wondered how old Bertie was – he barely looked older than eight or nine. It was hard to imagine that he had any good monster-hunting skills.
    Saffy turned back and looked out over the field. ‘OK, time to get going,’ she said, throwing the boy a rather uncertain look.
    â€˜Did you get the bolt cutters?’ she asked Jasper.
    â€˜Nope,’ he replied.
    Saffy glared at him. She looked as though she was about to fire another kick his way.
    â€˜But,’ he added quickly, ‘I have something much better.’ Jasper reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring of keys.
    Even Felix stopped looking anxious long enough to be impressed. ‘Where did you get those?’ he asked.
    Jasper thought back to his run-in with Craig. It had been worth the punishment of cleaning the prefects’ toilet block with a toothbrush.
    â€˜I may not be able to knock someone out, but I do know how to pick pockets,’ he grinned.
    Saffy beamed. ‘I’m almost sorry I kicked you before.’
    The searchlights scanned the snowy field.
    â€˜It’s nearly time,’ whispered Saffy.
    They waited until the two beams had crossed in front